As some of you may know, a task force made up of REALTORS from our West Metro Board has been involved in combating issues with our Carrollton City Government. Since late April, the task force has met with each city council member individually to discuss some concerns we had pertaining to private property rights. Our concerns were:

The moratorium was put in place on January 4, 2016 so that the city council could hire a consultant to evaluate the multifamily housing stock in our city. The report was completed by the Bleakly Group and a copy of that report can be viewed on the city’s website. The moratorium has halted all construction of multifamily housing projects and has effectively turned away any other developments from coming to the city.

An updated zoning map for the city of Carrollton can also be found on the city website. The 3 acre lots are zoned ER-3 and can be find at various sites such as the second phase of Northpoint Grand, Maple Street Commons, Chaucer Lane, etc.

The city tap fees are set to rise from $5,200 to $8,000. There is also an additional “tap fee” established “per bed” and/or “per unit.” This fee varies for different types of multi family housing but will likely be assessed on all multi family housing. We have asked about this “per bed” and/or “per unit” language in the resolution several times with no straight answer. The equivalent of this tap fee schedule is used for only two other cities in Georgia: Brooklet and Glynn County- which is St. Simon’s Island.

Our task force has displayed a strong opposition by gathering and speaking out (at each city council meeting) against these detrimental resolutions put forth by the city manager and city council. Since our individual meetings with city council members and the official city council meetings in the past months- the city council has voted in a new moratorium set to end January 2017, effectively ignored our requests to change the 3 acre lot zoning (that present members of the council “don’t remember” voting in), and passed the increased tap fees as part of the 2016-2017 budget.

Look for more updates in the coming weeks about our great city and the progress made in protecting private property rights in our city! I encourage anyone who has interest in these issues especially if you live in the city to join us tonight at the monthly city council meeting at the Public Safety Complex, Court/Council Chambers 115 West Center St, Carrollton, Ga.